Legally blind student Clark Atlanta charts path to medical school

Robinson had his heart set on attending a historically black college, and Atlanta schools — like Clark Atlanta and Morehouse — were at the top of his list. His parents were concerned about him going to school in another state, particularly because he had enrolled in January 2021, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“They were like, ‘Oh, are you going to be able to do it?’” he said. “Eventually, like all parents, they just gave in.”

Robinson said Clark Atlanta made accommodations for him, such as letting him record lectures and giving him more time to complete his homework. He is the only student who needs these services at this time, said Vickie M. Jester, director of Clark Atlanta University’s Disability Counseling and Services Center. The university has approximately 4,000 students. Disabled staff at the school met regularly with Robinson to monitor his progress, Jester added.

Robinson said attending college in another state during the pandemic helped him come out of his shell.

“Before the pandemic, I was a closed-off person…but attending an out-of-state college, especially an HBCU, forced me to reach out to my peers,” he said. “Without taking these steps to make friends, honestly, I probably wouldn’t have surrounded myself with successful friends who would also push me to try new things.”

In addition to making friends, Robinson also participated in the American Heart Association’s HBCU Scholars program, where students spend a year conducting research projects alongside doctors from the Morehouse School of Medicine. He was also accepted into an accelerated master’s program at Agnes Scott College in Decatur. He will begin studying for a master’s degree in medical sciences on May 29. The program only lasts one year. Robinson hopes to attend medical school in fall 2025, preferably at Morehouse School of Medicine or Howard University in Washington, DC.

He credits his mother, a former nurse, and father, a cancer survivor, with sparking his interest in medicine.

“My parents have been strong advocates for me (and are) the reason I’m here now,” Robinson said.

His advice to others who face similar obstacles and are considering attending college in another state?

“I would say you absolutely have to take the risk; it will be fun,” he said. “It’s going to be a learning lesson… you just have to find your place, find your rhythm.”